Kalihati upazila was selected as our major Project site again in PRDP-2 covering all the eleven unions and one paurashaba, as this area is familiar to us throughout the period not only of the previous PRDP-1 phase (2000-2004) but also of earlier two study phases since 1986 including Joint Study on Agricultural and Rural Development (JSARD, 1986-90) and Joint Study on Rural Development Experiment (JSRDE, 1992-95). Dakhin Chamuria village in this upazila was our starting point in 1986".
Kallihati upazila saw rapid changes in the past two decades, particularly after the Jamuna bridge was open to traffic in 1997. Elenga union, where we had our field office in PRDP-1 has become a traffic-hub, and Kalihati is now a sort of the “suburbs of DhakaEtaking less than two-hours drive to Dhaka ."
Nevertheless, Kalihati is still remain basically rural with about 60% working force engaged in agriculture, fishery and agri-labor, and the remaining population in different sectors of commerce (11%), transport (2%), service (9%), handloom (4%), wage-labor (3%) and others (10%). Agriculture is not particularly remarkable with 60% of farms irrigated resulting in modest cropping patterns with 46% single-cropped, 50% double-cropped and only 4% triple-cropped. Paddy is the main crop, followed by wheat, corn, mustard seed, potato, ginger, garlic, onion and varieties of pulse and vegetable. Jute is dwindling as elsewhere, and it is gradually replaced by sesbania ( dhaincha ). Land-holding patterns are not particularly unique as elsewhere with only 2% large, 10% medium, 35% small, and alarming 53% landless and marginal among “peasantE
Notwithstanding rapid economic development, agricultural, agrarian and rural problems remain almost intact, wherein we have our mission zeal to improve with the local people E
Description of Survey Area Based on Secondary Source
Description of Kalihati Upazila Kalihati Upazila is under Tangail district with an area of 301.22 Sq. Km. is bounded by Bhuapur and Ghatail Upazilas on the north, Basail and Tangail Sadar Upazilas on the south, Sakhipur upazila on the east, Sirajganj Sadar and Belkuchi upazila and the Jamuna river on the west. Main rivers of the upazila are Jamuna, Louhajong, Old Dhaleswari, Bangshi and Jhinai. There are 17 Beels (depression) in Kalihati Upazila. The noted Beels are Charan, Baisha, Kumar, Dhall and Talla.
Kalihati Thana was established in 1928 and was turned into an upazila in 1983. The upazila consists of one municipality, 11 union parishads and 302 villages. Its total population is about 354959, male 52%, female 48%. Out of them Muslim 90.02%, Hindu 9.69%, Christian 0.15% and Buddhist 0.14%.
Literacy rate is 27%, male 35% and female 19%. Educational institutions are, College 9, higher secondary school 45, primary school 145, madrasha 55, kindergarten 18 and technical educational institution 3.
Main occupations of this area are, agriculture 41%, fishing 1%, agri-labourer 16%, wage labourer 3%, loom 4%, industries 4%, commerce 11%, transport 2%, service 9% and others 9%.
Paddy is the main crop, followed by wheat, corn, mustard seed, potato, ginger, garlic, onion and varieties of pulse and vegetable. Extinct or nearly extinct crops are sesame and linseed. The wage rate in agriculture ranges between taka 60 to taka 80 and taka 120 to taka 150 in the non-agriculture sector. Women do poultry farming, fattening of cattle, working in handloom and bidi factory, sewing nakshi katha and bamboo and cane works. NGOs involved in various development activities are, BRAC, ASA, CARE, PROSHIKA, Palli Unnayan Sangshta, Grameen Bank, Society for Social Service, PKS& BURO Tangail.
